Survey of mite species of tea plantations in Rize

Abstract

This study was carried out between 2017-2019 to determine the mite species found in the tea gardens of Rize province (Türkiye). During the study, surveys in 9 districts (Ardeşen, Çayeli, Derepazarı, Fındıklı, Güneysu, İyidere, Kalkandere, Centre and Pazar) were carried out between May and September with the random sampling method, corresponding to the tea plant's 1st, 2nd and 3rd shoot period. Studies were conducted in 73 tea gardens in 9 districts in the first shoot period, 107 tea gardens in the 2nd shoot period and in 97 tea gardens in the 3rd shoot period and plant samples were taken. At the end of the study, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Acari: Tarsonemidae) was the most common and highest number detected species with 49.7%. Other mites identified are Calacarus carinatus (Green) (Prostigmata: Eriophyidae) with 24.3%, Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) (Prostigmata: Tenuipalpidae) with 19.9%, Tydeus californicus (Banks) (Prostigmata: Tydeidae) with 17.1%, Neoseiulus californicus (Oudemans) (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) with 5.9%, Czenspinskia transversostriata (Oudemans) (Acari: Winterschmidtiidae) with 2.9%, Tuckerella sp. (Prostigmata: Tuckerellidae) with 1.8%, and Oribatida species, respectively. The mites found in this study have been completed in a way that integrates with previous studies.